Apparatus for assembling articles



April 19 1955 l.. A. BARTl-:LHEIM ETAL APPARATUS FOR AssEMBLING ARTICLES Filed Feb. 21, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. l

SHN RHO 01.5 l MEN l I I l I l I Il E l H I A 0 BJ. u n (l. LJ

lill: l

ATTORNEY pril 19, 1955 L. A. BARTELHx-:IM ETAL APPARATUS FOR AssEMBLING ARTICLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 21, 1951 FIG.

FIG.

INVENTORS L A BARTEL /f/M J. l?. JoH/vs'o/v v BY TTORNEY United States Patent O APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING ARTICLES Leland A. Bartelheim, Riverside, and Joel R. Johnson, Chicago, lll., assignors to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 21, 1951, Serial No. 212,120

2 Claims. (Cl. 29-203) This invention relates to apparatus for assembling articles, and more particularly to apparatus for clamping together banks of pre-wired contact cards.

In -the manufacture of step-by-step switching banks, a number of layers of arcuately arranged pre-wired contact cards are stacked one above the other in several banks arranged in side-by-side relationship. Each bank of cards is compressed and secured by means of screws. Apparatus known hitherto for holding the banks and clamping the cards together has been cumbersome and expensive.

An object of the invention is to provide new and irnproved apparatus for assembling articles.

A further object of the invention is to provide new and improved apparatus for clamping together banks of prewired contact cards.

An apparatus illustrating certain features of the invention may include a rack for holding banks of interwired contact cards in side-by-side positions therealong, opposed clamping elements, and a C-shaped frame carrying the clamping elements on the `ends thereof and movable along the rack and toward and away from the rack for moving the clamping elements to positions bracketing the banks of contact cards. Means are provided for actuating the clamping elements, and an actuator is positioned on the central portion of the frame so that it is engaged and operated by the rack when the frame is in proper clamping position.

A complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from the following detailed description of the apparatus forming a specic embodiment thereof, when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary, front elevation of an apparatus forming a specific embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, vertical section taken along line 2--2 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of the apparatus, and

Fig. 4 is a schematic wire diagram of a control circuit of the apparatus.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, there is shown therein an apparatus including a base having guide 99. Sets of locating pins 11-11 on the base position interwired stacks 12-12 of contact cards between clamping plates 13-13 and 14-14 so that the plates and the cards may be compressed by a clamping mechanism 15, and screws 16--16 may be tightened by a pneumatic wrench 17 to secure the plates 13--13 and 14-14 together. The base 10 is supported by a pair of vertical channels 21-21 which support horizontal channels 22-22 supporting a trolley 23 for free movement along the channels by means of rollers 24--24 and rods 25--25.

A mounting bracket 26 secured rigidly to the trolley 23 carries a ladder-like support 27 pivotally, which carriesv a generally C-shaped frame 28 of the clamping mechanism by links 31-31 and tension springs 32--32. The frame 28 carries a hydraulic cylinder 35 in which a piston moves to carry a pressure pad 36 connected thereto upwardly to compressing position toward a xed clamp 38. The stroke of the pressure pad 36 is controlled by a double acting solenoid-operated four-way valve 37 (Fig. 4) for controlling the admission of air under pressure to the cylinder. The frame 28 carries a pair of push button operated switches 50 and 51 connected in series with a microswitch 52 in such a manner that a solenoid 53 2,706,331 Patented Apr. 19, 1955 ICC of the valve 37 is actuated to drive the pressure pad 36 upwardly when all of the switches 50, 51 and 52 are operated. The switch 50 is mounted on a handle 54, and the switch 51 is mounted on a handle 56. It will be observed that this use of switches provides a safety interlock feature, wherein it is necessary for the operator to depress switches 50 and 51 by the use of both of his hands, and it will further be observed that no compression can take place unless a spring-pressed feeler shoe 55 of the switch 52 is in contact with the base 10, thus assuring proper positioning of the pressure pad 36 and the fixed clamp 38.

The frame 28 carries arelease switch 60, the purpose of which is to actuate a solenoid 61 of the valve 37, thereby causing the pressure pad 36 to be driven downwardly to release the bank. The upper fixed clamp 38 is provided with a pair of apertures 62-62, which register withvthe locating pins 11-11 when the clamping mechanism 15 is properly positioned, and the fixed clamp 38 is also provided with a series of holes 63-63 `through which the screws 16-16 to be tightened may be inserted, and into which the end of the wrench may be inserted.

Operation The stacks 12-12 of contact cards and the clamping plates 13-13 and 14-14 are placed on the locating pins 11-11 and resting upon the base 10, after which the operator moves the clamping mechanism 15 into position with the pressure pad 36 contacting the lower face of the base 10 and with the apertures 62--62 of the xed clamp 38 fitting over the locating pins 11-11. If the mechanisrn has been correctely position, the contact shoe 55 is pressed by the base 10 to close the switch 53, the operator then depresses switches 50 and 51, thereby causing the pad 36 to be driven upwardly. Such action causes the clamp 38 as well as the rest of the frame 28 to be moved downwardly, thereby compressing the stack of contact plates. At this time, the operator inserts the screws and tightens them with the wrench 17. When this operation is completed, the operator actuates the release switch 60, which opens the clamping mechanism, and the operator moves the clamping mechanism back away from the base 10 and laterally to the next suceeding bank.

The above-described apparatus is simple and sure in construction and operation, and may be operated with a minimum of effort on the part of an operator thereof. Correct location of the clamping mechanism is insured by the switch 53, and the guides 9-9 always locate the clamping mechanism along the base 10 for the movement of the tixed clamp over the locating pins 11-11.

If desired, the feeler shoe 55 may be so located as to be actuated by the elements to be clamped together when the clamping mechanism 15 is properly located.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are simply illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for clamping contact banks, which comprises an elongated support, a plurality of sets of liner pins spaced along the support for locating banks of contact cards along the support, a track extending parallel to the support positioned above the support, a trolley mounted on the track, a bracket secured to the trolley, a ladder-like link supported pivotally by the bracket and pivotal toward and away from the support, a C-clamp having a body portion, arms connecting the body portion of the C-clamp to the ladder-like link, an upper clamp plate xed to the body portion, a lower clamp plate, fluid pressure means supporting the lower clamp plate in opposed relationship to the upper clamp plate, a feeler switch on the C-clamp intermediate the clamp plates operable by the support when the C-clamp is in proper clamping position, a pair of manually operable switches mounted on opposite ends of the C-clamp in series with one another and the feeler switch, means responsive to operation of all the switches for actuating the iluid pressure means,

l tact cards along the support, a track extending parallel to the support positioned above the support, a trolley mounted on the track, a bracket secured to the trolley, a ladder-like link supported pivotally by the bracket and pivotal toward and away from the support, a C-clamp having a' body portion, arms connecting the body portion of the C-clamp to the ladder-like link, an Aupper clamp plate fixed to the body portion, a lower clamp plate, Huid pressure means supporting the lower clamp plate in opposed relationship to the upper clamp plate, an upper handle projecting upwardly fromthe body member and a lower handle projecting outwardly fromthe lower portion of the body member, a feeler switch on the C-clamp intermediate the clamp plates operable by the support when the C-clamp is in proper clamping position, a pair of manually operable switches mounted on the handles in series with one another and the feeler switch, means responsive to operation of all the switches for actuating the uid pressure means, and means for urging the C-clamp toward the link and permitting movement of the C-clarnp 'toward the support'.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,131,777 Gage Mar. 16, 1915 1,772,735 Romine Aug. 12, 1930 1,885,690 Doyle Nov. l, 1932 2,090,439 Carwardine e- Aug. 17, 1937 2,349,878 Malhoit May 30, 1944 2,351,276 Malhoit lune 13, 1944 2,393,617 De Spain Jan. 29, 1946 2,438,999 Hartley et a1 Apr. 6, 1948 2,509,956 Benoit May 30, 1950 2,530,016 Landis Nov. 14, 1950 2,550,045 De Hetre Apr. 24, 1951 

